Now I'm Just Like Any Other Kid Who Grew Up in America

Finally saw "Wizard of Oz" lastnight. Yes, for the first time. Now I finally know the appropriate context for all the songs. I would love to read Wicked and then see the play, but I don't know if I'll have enough time...too many books on the to-read list.

Happy Easter

Today is Easter. Jesus resurrected and defeated sin and death, thus freeing us from the bondage of sin.

I actually got up to go to sunrise service today, which is very unusual, I'm ashamed to say. I was able to get a GREAT parking spot right on Wentworth. It was MONEY!! I wanted to leave my car there forever. Norm gave a great "sermon," (he's not a pastor, so I probably can't call it a "sermon?") and afterwards we went to have breakfast. Then we attended the regular service. EVERYONE was dressed up. I was so impressed. I've never seen Fu not wearing his fleece and down vest. The guys looked SOOO good, and I was speechless when I first saw them! I have no idea why they don't all have girlfriends! Ha! ;) Although, if they did they wouldn't hang out w/ us girls anymore, and I'd be sad. :)


What can I say? These guys are HOT!!! Too bad not all of the guys were available for pictures. (There was actually another picture taken of the girls w/ the guys, but I looked pretty horrible in it. And since it's my blog, I would prefer to keep the bad shots of me off. :) Carina & Kat looked great though. Guess you'll have to take my word for it.)

Oh yes! I also had Good Friday off 2 days ago, and Preston, Michael, Lamont and I went to Michigan City, IN to do some outlet mall shopping. The weather was crappy (snowy rain), and I spent more money than I should have at the Anne Taylor Factory Store, a.k.a., heaven, as I know it. Neverthless, I can now say that I've been to Indiana. Thanks guys!!

Tomorrow is back to work. :( It's going to be hard working a full week after having worked only 2 days this past week. Plus, there's retreat this coming weekend (in Wisconsin, yay another state checked off), AND it's Spring Forward. That hour-loss always throws me off for the rest of the {following} week . Work sucks as it is, but it's worse when your sleeping rhythm is all out of whack.

I cannot believe I've been in Chicago 7 months already.

Isn't it Romantic?

Snow and I, we're back together. I love snow again! We've been getting these really cute, fluffy snow falls, and it's absolutely gorgeous! I just want to stay outside and walk around in it. I love seeing the huge flakes fall from the sky, landing on my jacket and taking a couple of seconds before melting to water. I look up at the sky, and it's picture perfect! I wish pictures would do it justice...

Actually, it reminds me of the one time dad and I often refer to, the one time in Toronto, where it was snowing giant flakes, and none of us have ever seen snow fall like that ever since.

A Different Class

Today, I had an evening of pampering at The Peninsula Hotel spa. Boy, was it fantastic! It was a gift from InStyle magazine, for whom we more than tripled their paging level from 2004. Ginger even came in town to join us. She really is super nice to me.

I started off w/ a "Relaxation Facial." I normally don't like facials, but this one was indeed pretty relaxing. They didn't do the painful extraction part, thank God! Then, I had a manicure, and I picked out the nail color that I'm going to do for my wedding day. Lastly, I had an hour-long "Therapeutic Massage," and it was probably one of the best massages I've ever had. It's right up there w/ the hot stone massage! It was so awesome. I could have had her rub on my hamstring the whole entire time. I do feel a little guilty that I had to miss most of smallgroup for this...but it was kinda worth it. ;)

Who am I? That I'd get these kinds of perks?? I don't deserve any of it at all!!! The things we get in this industry are just insane!! And to think, there are people out there who totally abuse the "system." Today, I learned that someone had a rep pay for his/her entire honeymoon. My gosh! How the heck does one live with oneself? I could NEVER accept something like that, much less ASK for it. And who is this rep who would agree to it?? I honestly do pray that I'm kept grounded and that I don't let any of this go to my head.

Pictures Galore! (Not in Chronological Order)

Photos of my Chicago friends, for whom I "raise the roof!!!" :)


Smallgroup sometimes meet at my place on Wed nights...have to miss Alias...very sad.


My gal Carina & me


My "sista" Kathleen & me


Iris & Michael--one of Rick's cousins, who is very young...but swell :)


Iris & Michael, ghetto style (note the fabulous scarf!!)


Trying to get to my (back) door. Shovel from Lamont's car, mentioned in 1.22.05 post.


Service Project: Operation Christmas Child


First Sunday in Chicago. Carina, Kat & I going to Joy Yee's w/ Lamont after service at CCUC


Kat, Preston & Norm, more swell single guys and gal


Lamont & Dan, the "swell-ness" continues...

Thanks to Michael for taking these pictures for your grandchildren!

Sweet Charity

I saw the pre-broadway musical "Sweet Charity" tonight w/ Health magazine. Christina Applegate is the lead actress in it, which led to my very first celebrity sighting (not counting the ones I've seen in shows, etc.) - her husband, Jonathan Schaech. It was pretty wild. He was walking RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. Of course I acted "cool." This other girl in our group actually approached him and said something, then I heard the girls that she was with giggling in the background. It was so obvious. I was embarrassed for them. :) I tried to take a picture w/ my phone, but it would have been too obvious.

This is crazy! I've just been blessed with so many thing here in Chicago. I mean, I have a manicure almost every week and a spa appointment every other week. That is nuts!! No one should have that. I just want to make sure that I don't take all that stuff for granted and be truly appreciative.